India to outdo Russia in space

The Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) is to launch a record number of satellites into orbit in June. According to the head of the ISRO, Kiran Kumar, it goes about 22 spacecraft.

Photo: AP photo

"We intend to launch a record number of satellites - 22 - into orbit in late June, - he said. - Preparations are in their final stage. We expect to surpass our own achievement from 2008, when ten small satellites were successfully delivered into orbit, having thus beaten the previous world record set by Russia."

According to the official, there will be only three Indian satellites among 22 spacecraft that the ISRO intends to launch into space in June. All others will be commercial launches made for the United States, Canada, Indonesia and Germany.

According to the head of India's VSSC space center, PSLV C34 booster will be used to conduct the upcoming launches.

The first launch of the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) was held on September 20, 1993. Prior to the appearance of the PSLV, it was only Russia that could provide such commercial services.

With the help of the PSLV, it is possible to launch small satellites into geosynchronous transfer orbit (GTO). On October 22, 2008, launch vehicle PSLV-XL was used to launch Chandrayaan-1, India's first lunar probe. On November 5, 2013, the vehicle launched India's first interplanetary probe Mars Orbiter Mission to Mars. The PSLV-XL is also used to launch satellites of the Indian Regional Navigation System (IRNSS).

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